By What is a Influential Women in History
March marks Women’s History Month for the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. During this month women of all walks of life are celebrated for their contributions to the world. Women continue to raise the bar for everyone in their respective fields. The growth in women’s sports over the past 20 years is because of the influential women that dispel stereotypes and break glass ceilings. Influential women women in history push boundaries.
These contributions include women in sports and how their athleticism, strength, and grace shape the way we consume our favorite sports. Despite the stigma around women’s sports, these women continue to push.
The growth in women’s sports over the past 20 years is because of the influential women that dispel stereotypes and break glass ceilings.
Serena Williams
Defined an era of women’s tennis? Check. Break basically every tennis record out there? Check. In the conversation of being the greatest athlete alive? Check, check, check. Serena Williams is widely considered the greatest tennis player of all time.
Her legacy includes ranking No. 1 by the Women’s Tennis Association for 319 weeks, and 23 Grand Slam wins. Williams, with the help of her sister Venus ushered in a new era of power and athleticism that had not been seen before in women’s tennis.
Williams managed to stay at the top her game under extreme scrutiny from sports media that often tried to portray her as an “angry black woman”. She is a cultural and sports icon, and front and center the group of influential Black women.
Simone Biles
Another Black woman that became the face of her sport. Simone Biles has a combined total of 30 Olympic and world championship medals in gymnastics. She is the most decorated and dominant gymnast ever.
Biles even has her own signature moves that have been named after her. She redefined US gymnastics.
She uses her platform to not only uplift other athletes but also other survivors. Biles is one of the gymnasts that was sexually abused by Larry Nassar.
Megan Rapinoe
The American born soccer player has led the United States national team to winning gold in the 2012 Olympics, 2015 Olympics, the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and a bronze in the 2020 Olympics. When she isn’t with the national team, she captains the OL Reign.
Rapinoe is a huge advocate for equal pay in women’s sports, specifically in soccer. The US women’s soccer team constantly outperforms the men’s team yet receives less pay.
She has been involved in a lawsuit that the USWNT filed against the U.S Soccer Federation. The lawsuit recently settled for 24 million dollars.
Candace Parker
WNBA star, and TV analyst, with a long career. Parker’s resume included a championship, a finals MVP award, two Olympic gold medals, two-regular season MVPs, and a Rookie of the Year award.
Like other women on this list, she also juggles being a sports superstar with the Los Angeles Sparks with being a mom to her daughter, Lailaa.
Parker also uses her voice to speak out against racism and prejudice against Black Americans like police brutality.
Hilary Knight
One of the best American women’s hockey players. Hilary Knight is one of the faces of the U.S national hockey team. After playing for the Wisconsin Badgers women’s ice hockey team, she wen on to play for the different itirations of the women’s hockey league in America.
Knight has one gold Olympic medal (2018), and three silver ones (2010, 2014, 2022). She also has a whooping eight World Championship gold medals and three silver ones.
Her success has helped push more girls and women getting into hockey especially in the U.S. She continues to advocate for better working conditions and pay for women hockey players; she was one of the loudest voices in 2019, deciding not to play till the conditions were met.
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